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Resident cat not accepting kittens - help!

7 replies

drinkuplikeamum · 30/12/2021 19:53

So we've got 2 kittens, now 3 months old and had them for about 6 weeks. Two gorgeous girls, both settled and very happy. They have their own room, and I've been cautious about integrating them with our resident cat.

Resident cat is 5 years old, feisty tortie with an attitude. She managed fine with our previous cat who died two years ago, they weren't friends but got along ok.

I've followed all the advice I could find about integrating them, we've used a mesh stairgate between the kitten room and the rest of the house. When the cats see each other resident girl hisses once or twice, sometimes growls, and sometimes rushes the gate to swipe at the kittens before running away. Once of the kittens is very shy and after a few occasions of this will now not go into the corridor where the gate is and stays solely in her room. The other kitten is much bolder and desperate to explore the rest of the house despite resident cat's presence.

We've been doing this for some weeks now and no progress. I'm reluctant to let them have proper access to each other in case resident cat tries to hurt them (I'm not sure she would but...). I just don't know what the next step is.

Any advice please on what to do now?

OP posts:
AnnaMagnani · 30/12/2021 20:04

At this point I'd be tempted to stick a lot of Feliway up and let them get on with it.

As a halfway step can you let the kittens explore the house when the cat is outside? Or shut the cat in one room when it's asleep to let the kittens explore? That way you will get a lot of scent swapping going on and resident cat won't have the whole house as their territory.

We did this for a while when introducing our new boy until eventually we got fed up and let them scrap it out.

generalh · 30/12/2021 20:09

My feisty tortoiseshell still hates our 'kitten'4 years later. She hisses at her and fights every day. It could just be our cat but...

AwkwardPaws27 · 30/12/2021 20:09

Agree with feliway suggestion.
Our 11 yo cat hated our younger cat. Lots of hisses and he got smacked on the head a fair few times as he was intent on doing everything with her.
We made sure she had access to food water and litter away from him but eventually she had to just get on with it.
He's 18 months now and they sleep together, she washes him, & only occasionally slaps him when he takes the piss.

Resident cat not accepting kittens - help!
drinkuplikeamum · 30/12/2021 20:25

Thank you all for such quick responses :)

We have Feliway up around the house (have done since before the kittens arrived). @AnnaMagnani we have started doing what you've suggested by giving them access to the house when she's outside/asleep, although the downside is she's now started clinging to me and wanting to sleep all day on me! Bolder kitten is happy to explore during this time but shyer one still won't leave the room she's in even then.

One thought was to raise the height of the stairgate (its a travel one) so if chased the kittens can get under it to the safety of their room and resident girl can't get in, but I'm not sure if that is overkill.

OP posts:
drinkuplikeamum · 30/12/2021 20:26

Your cats are gorgeous by the way @AwkwardPaws27 Smile

OP posts:
AwkwardPaws27 · 30/12/2021 22:50

Thank you. He's massively overtaken his "big sister" in size - 5.5kg to her 4kg - but she is definitely the boss.

FlowerOfTheValley · 30/12/2021 23:10

Lots of scent swapping - let them in each other’s territory if you can - so scents go on bedding and toys. Transfer scents by stroking around the neck area using a sock or something and then doing the same to the kittens and then vice versa.

Feed them in sight of each other until you gradually get either side of the gate.

Play with them together either side of the gate.

Basically you’re trying to get them to associate each other with positive things.

Good luck.

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